At the beginning of this month, Jiangsu Zhongzhou Marine Engineering Equipment Co. Ltd signed a newbulding contract for a pair of 2,000CBM double-hull oil barge with Asia Jianqiao. This is the fourth newbuilding project cooperation between Zhongzhou and Jianqiao.
It is said the new ship will be employed in Canada and Arctic region services. The barges feature 70 .0m in length, 18.9, m in width, 3.4m in depth and 2.45 in design draft. The newbuilts will be launched by this December and are scheduled to be delivered by April 2014. The barges are to be classed b LR.